Microstructure and corrosion properties of Mg-4Zn-2Gd-0.5Ca alloy influenced by multidirectional forging

The as-cast Mg-4Zn-2Gd-0.5Ca alloy mainly contained I phase and W phase, while the I phase dissolved into Mg substrate after homogenization treatment which improved the alloy's corrosion resistance. After the application of multidirectional forging (MDF), the grains were refined obviously accompanied with the precipitation of I phase. With the increasing pass of MDF, both the size of dynamic recrystallized grains and the amount of precipitated I phase increased. The corrosion resistance of Mg-4Zn-2Gd-0.5Ca alloy became worse after 1 pass of MDF as compared with the as-homogenizated condition because of the precipitation of I phase. Neverthless, the corrosion resistance of the as-MDFed Mg-4Zn-2Gd-0.5Ca alloy deteriorated with the increasing pass of MDF. As compared with grain refinement, the precipitated I phase is thought to play a main role on the corrosion behavior of Mg-4Zn-0.5Ca alloy.